STEWART Robertson has laughed off claims Rangers are responsible for the appointment of Brendan Rodgers at Celtic.

A newspaper article said Dermot Desmond moved for the former Liverpool boss after witnessing “over-the-top” celebrations from the Ibrox board following last month’s Scottish Cup semi-final win for Gers .

Robertson has dismissed suggestions of gloating from his fellow directors – and it’s believed Irish tycoon Desmond had left Hampden before the penalty shoot-out that confirmed victory.

The reports claimed the behaviour of the Ibrox board was more akin ‘to the Rangers end’ but managing director Robertson has defended the reaction of his fellow directors after recent years of strife and financial turmoil.

He said: “I did see those reports. The Rangers directors were ecstatic at winning.

“However, you have to remember it was a release of four or five years of hard graft trying to get the club out of the hands of the guys who had it.

“We jumped up and cheered to celebrate a goal, we jumped up and cheered when the shoot-out was finished. I defy anybody, in any directors’ box in the world, not to get out of their seats in that situation.

“It was definitely not grand-standing. Yes, we celebrated, absolutely, we’re only human. It was exuberant celebration, to use the word of the day.”